While looks can be discerning, reality shows aren’t exactly the best judge of character; especially dating shows that could be farce or scripted. Reality shows have always existed in the broader sense and these days they are being inculcated into the Boys’ Love diaspora. Makes us question the belief of “How a fictional genre could incorporate a dating show which is undeniably being marketed as realistic?”. We could keep arguing about the technicalities, but it doesn’t change the fact that BL sells and nestling these shows under the hugely popular genre helps in promotions and marketing. So, when the Korean launched their very own version of dating shows like “His Man” and “Merry Queer”, they were applauded for their efforts. The format was new, and the contestants were intriguing. They had a story to share, each of them. While “His Man” was intentionally gay oriented, “Merry Queer” was blissfully more aligned with the queer community because of its diversified selection of contestants. Both shows ended on a positive response; although “His Man” did court controversy later. Hong Kong’s “Boyscation” wasn’t much appreciated, but it did open the floodgates for future remakes.

Banking on this excitement, Filipino media giant Black Sheep have recently launched their own dating show, Sparks Camp. The catch- the show is available on their YouTube Channel (so you don’t need to buy separate subscriptions for ten different streaming apps). Well known for heralding the advent of the BL genre into the Filipino shores with their popular teenage romance “Hello Stranger”, their announcement was met with anticipation and trepidation.

While some lauded their efforts, others expressed their displeasure, calling on the lack of diverse representation. Their concerns do raise substantial questions on the format of most dating shows, which are basically stereotypical based on the contestant’s looks or their social stature (mostly aiming at those with an affable social media presence). As such, you might be well acquainted with most of the “Sparks Camp” contestants if you are a Filipino.

Set in picturesque locales, Spark Camp is hosted by Miss Trans Global 2020 Miss Mela Habijan, an avid advocate of LGBTQ+ rights.

The ten eager contestants vying for love and attention are:

☆ Aaron Maniego, commercial model and content creator (Gay)

☆ Stanley Bawalan, virtual assistant (Gay)

☆ Karl Bautista, architect (Gay)

☆ Justin Macapallag, college student (Bisexual)

☆ Gabe Balita, student jock (Bisexual Cisgender Queer)

☆ Nat Magbintang, medical student (Cisgender Gay)

☆ Bong Gonzales, aspiring actor (Cisgender Gay)

☆ Alex De Ungria, college student and video game player (Gay)

☆ Dan Calman, law student (Gay)

☆ Nick De Ocampo, business owner (Bisexual)

The contestants will go through a series of challenges to test their compatibility with each other, so they can find the “Mutual Spark”. Mela Habijan will be serving as the host and facilitator for the show as the boys get to know each other better.

What Happens in the First Two Episodes

The first episode does a modest job of introducing the contestants alongside Mela Habijan, the host. We are given a brief introductory prelude about each contestant, that’s too on the surface (not too much, not too less). You can actually go surfing through your favorites as you listen to them talk about their personal lives. We also get to read their initial impressions about each other based on their appearances, accents, and so all. It was nice and quite reminiscent of “His Man”. While the first episode of His Man threw the contestants instantly into a peculiar living arrangement, Sparks Camp does a better job of breaking the ice. So, before settling down, the contestants were given a taste of “Physical Chemistry” (because chemistry is very, very important) in the “Hold Me Tight” challenge. The contestants were divided into five groups, each consisting of a grabber and a holder. Grabbers would act as a defense while holders will try to steal another pair’s spark.

The pairings were as follows- Dan & Karl, Justin & Nat, Alex & Bong, Nick & Stanley, Aaron & Gabe. We aren’t going into the specifics of the challenge (because it’s too spicy to disclose, you need to watch it yourself). At the end, the winning pair, Dan & Karl, were given a chance to date anyone from the losing groups. The first challenge established one thing clearly: the contestants have a warm-hearted camaraderie but they are also insanely competitive. This will definitely make the upcoming episodes quite interesting.

I was definitely looking forward to the second episode because of the “Date” premise; was dying to know whom Dan & Karl would choose. Surprisingly enough, Dan choose Nat (I had an inkling about it) while Karl chose Justin. The date wasn’t too over-the-top, just a casual conversation between two couples who are trying to find a common ground. Whilst Karl & Justin seemed more comfortable with each other (despite their age gap), Dan & Nat rather had an awkward interlude (it felt forced, maybe they aren’t THAT into each other). While the winners enjoyed their date, the losing team members got together for a cookout.

As the day ends, Mela Habijan led the team to another intriguing challenge, where each camper’s juicy secrets were revealed. The campers were asked to raise the card of the contestant who they think owns that particular secret. In the end, the owner of the secret was revealed. The entire setup was quite cozy as secrets tumbled out of the closet and it made for an entertaining watch.

First Impressions

After watching the first two episodes, I like the entire vibe of this show; it’s casual, jovial yet exciting. I couldn’t help but compare it with “His Man” (because counting pros and cons is my habit). As against the Korean version, where we have no host/hostess, it’s obvious that the makers of Sparks Camp have put a lot of efforts into designing this format. Adding Mela Habijan as the mentor is the cherry on the cake; she has a formidable presence, is beautiful and the contestants seem to be more comfortable in her company. She is cheerful but also firm when the situation calls for it.

Now coming to the contestants (despite the hoopla regarding lack of diversity), I did find them interesting. We have a regular mix of students and working men; while some have a strong media presence, others don’t. I like how this show throws different permutations and combinations with each challenge. Like when the first episode ended, I was rooting for Karl & Dan. But then I spend the second episode swooning over Dan’s chemistry with Justin. I’m also a huge, huge fan of Bong’s exuberant energy and his obvious crush on Alex (it’s just so cute). I’m still unsure about the total number of episodes this season (MyDramaList tells me it is six); if so, I’m wondering if the 30 minutes format would be enough time for the campers to understand each other better & feel the spark. One-on-one dates are a great way to connect; but they can be a hit-or-miss scenario (like Dan & Nat, I didn’t feel any sort of chemistry there. They seem more like old friends/acquaintances). The “Unpacking Feelings” challenge was a nice way to get the contestants to open up about themselves; none of them seem shy, but giving them a platform to share their innermost thoughts was smart. All in all, the first two episodes were entertaining and I’m hoping all campers end up with their very own SPARK (because, obviously, we love watching people fall in love).

Rating- 4 out of 5

This article is a joint collaboration between The BL Xpress and Psycho Weird. You can read their thoughts on this show on their website. Join us, as we contemplate on the similarities and differences in our thought process!